Blogs

Archive for 2016

This is the day the International Diabetes Federation encourages the world to focus on diabetes. Diabetes is a condition which gets lots of media attention; we have weekly headlines on causes of diabetes, cost of diabetes and cures for diabetes; the majority of these being sensationalised headlines to grab our attention, loosely based on facts.

Within the last couple of weeks I’ve had some of my most senior emergency, elderly care and surgical consultants come and find me, for a frank and open conversation. There is a pressing matter that is the focus of all our efforts and energy… winter. More specifically, how we will care for our patients and how we will care for each other in the weeks and months ahead of us.

For my Fab Change Day pledge I have dyed my hair for a couple of weeks to raise funds and raise awareness to support improvements for dementia friendly environments at the Countess, in particular for the Care of the Elderly wards (ward 50/51).

I work at the Countess and have been involved in and seen first-hand the fantastic work staff members continue to do and support with limited resources and the impact dementia friendly environments can have to benefit everyone. The work continues and the demand for dementia friendly environments increases.

It has been an unusual start to my working week here at The Countess. My Monday began reading local newspaper coverage reporting that the hospital at which I am Chief Executive is to be merged with a neighbouring Trust. What’s more, the article went on to suggest that our hospital in Chester as well as others nearby will no longer be needed as care will instead be provided at a brand new hospital building in Ellesmere Port. I had been briefed that this story was in the offing and I feel it may be helpful for people to know that this coverage is the consequence of an informal or ‘leaked’ email, which we’ve not seen or been contacted about directly here at The Countess. It is not based on fact or an accurate reflection of any discussions and ambitions for the NHS that I’ve been involved in as part of my regular regional planning meetings.

Making society a more dementia inclusive environment requires several pillars of the community to work together – no one can do it by themselves.

What was great about the Listen, Learn and DO event on 20 May at Chester Town Hall was that there was no hierarchy, everyone mixed. There were people living with various forms of dementia, carers, NHS staff, council staff, volunteers and members of the general public. Everyone mixed and joined in together.